Advanced Placement (AP)

The Advanced Placement (AP) program offers a variety of college-level courses across multiple subjects. Here’s a summary of each AP subject along with major units and typical subtopics, organized by subject category. Note that while syllabi can vary slightly by school, the following provides a comprehensive overview aligned with the AP standards and exam content.

1. AP English

AP English Language and Composition

• Unit 1: Rhetorical Analysis
  • Subtopics: Argument structure, rhetorical devices, purpose, audience
• Unit 2: Argumentative Writing
  • Subtopics: Thesis development, evidence selection, counterarguments
• Unit 3: Synthesis and Source Integration
  • Subtopics: Combining sources, avoiding plagiarism, credible sourcing
• Unit 4: Style and Tone
  • Subtopics: Syntax, diction, tone, voice in writing

AP English Literature and Composition

• Unit 1: Short Fiction Analysis
  • Subtopics: Themes, character development, setting, narrative structure
• Unit 2: Poetry Analysis
  • Subtopics: Meter, symbolism, figurative language, theme interpretation
• Unit 3: Novel and Drama Analysis
  • Subtopics: Character relationships, societal themes, literary devices

2. AP History & Social Studies

AP U.S. History

• Unit 1: Colonization and Settlement (1491–1607)
  • Subtopics: Native American societies, European exploration, colonial economies
• Unit 2: American Revolution and Independence
  • Subtopics: Revolutionary causes, key battles, Declaration of Independence
• Unit 3: Civil War and Reconstruction
  • Subtopics: Causes of the Civil War, key battles, Reconstruction policies
• Unit 4: Modern America
  • Subtopics: Industrialization, Great Depression, Civil Rights, Cold War

AP World History: Modern

• Unit 1: The Global Tapestry (1200–1450)
  • Subtopics: State building, trade networks, cultural diffusion
• Unit 2: Land-Based Empires (1450–1750)
  • Subtopics: Ottoman, Mughal, and Ming empires, trade impact
• Unit 3: Revolutions and Global Conflicts (1750–1900)
  • Subtopics: Industrial Revolution, imperialism, WWI and WWII

AP Psychology

• Unit 1: Research Methods
  • Subtopics: Experimental design, ethics, statistical analysis
• Unit 2: Biological Bases of Behavior
  • Subtopics: Brain anatomy, neurotransmission, hormones
• Unit 3: Learning and Memory
  • Subtopics: Conditioning, memory processes, cognitive biases

3. AP Sciences

AP Biology

• Unit 1: Chemistry of Life
  • Subtopics: Biomolecules, water properties, enzyme function
• Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function
  • Subtopics: Cell organelles, membranes, transport mechanisms
• Unit 3: Genetics and Evolution
  • Subtopics: Mendelian genetics, natural selection, gene expression
• Unit 4: Ecology
  • Subtopics: Ecosystems, population dynamics, biodiversity

AP Chemistry

• Unit 1: Atomic Structure and Properties
  • Subtopics: Atomic models, electron configuration, periodic trends
• Unit 2: Chemical Bonding and Intermolecular Forces
  • Subtopics: Ionic and covalent bonds, molecular geometry
• Unit 3: Thermodynamics and Kinetics
  • Subtopics: Reaction rates, enthalpy, entropy, free energy

AP Physics 1 (Algebra-Based)

• Unit 1: Kinematics
  • Subtopics: Motion graphs, velocity, acceleration
• Unit 2: Dynamics (Forces and Newton’s Laws)
  • Subtopics: Newton’s laws, friction, circular motion
• Unit 3: Energy and Momentum
  • Subtopics: Work, kinetic and potential energy, conservation laws

AP Environmental Science

• Unit 1: Ecosystems and Energy Flow
  • Subtopics: Food chains, trophic levels, biodiversity
• Unit 2: Population Ecology
  • Subtopics: Population dynamics, carrying capacity
• Unit 3: Pollution and Resource Management
  • Subtopics: Pollution types, renewable resources, sustainability

4. AP Mathematics

AP Calculus AB

• Unit 1: Limits and Continuity
  • Subtopics: Limits, asymptotes, continuity
• Unit 2: Differentiation
  • Subtopics: Derivative rules, applications of derivatives
• Unit 3: Integration and Accumulation of Change
  • Subtopics: Antiderivatives, definite integrals, area and volume calculations

AP Calculus BC (includes all of AP Calculus AB plus the following)

• Unit 4: Polynomial Approximations and Series
  • Subtopics: Taylor series, convergence, approximations

AP Statistics

• Unit 1: Data Analysis
  • Subtopics: Types of data, graphical displays, measures of spread
• Unit 2: Probability and Random Variables
  • Subtopics: Probability rules, normal distribution, z-scores
• Unit 3: Statistical Inference
  • Subtopics: Hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, p-values

5. AP Computer Science

AP Computer Science A

• Unit 1: Primitive Data Types
  • Subtopics: Variables, data types, operators
• Unit 2: Object-Oriented Programming
  • Subtopics: Classes, inheritance, polymorphism
• Unit 3: Algorithms and Control Structures
  • Subtopics: Loops, conditional statements, recursion

AP Computer Science Principles

• Unit 1: Digital Information
  • Subtopics: Binary representation, data compression, encryption
• Unit 2: Internet and Data Security
  • Subtopics: Cybersecurity, internet structure, privacy
• Unit 3: Programming
  • Subtopics: Basic coding, app development, debugging

6. AP Arts

AP Art and Design (2D, 3D, and Drawing)

• Unit 1: Inquiry and Investigation
  • Subtopics: Concept development, medium exploration, artistic intent
• Unit 2: Practice and Experimentation
  • Subtopics: Materials testing, iterative design
• Unit 3: Portfolio Development
  • Subtopics: Artistic statement, work refinement, presentation

AP Music Theory

• Unit 1: Fundamentals of Music
  • Subtopics: Scales, intervals, key signatures
• Unit 2: Harmony and Voice Leading
  • Subtopics: Chord progressions, counterpoint, cadences
• Unit 3: Musical Analysis
  • Subtopics: Form, genre analysis, stylistic techniques

7. AP World Languages

Example: AP Spanish Language and Culture

• Unit 1: Families and Communities
  • Subtopics: Family structures, social customs, regional practices
• Unit 2: Science and Technology
  • Subtopics: Innovation impact, ethical considerations
• Unit 3: Global Challenges
  • Subtopics: Environmental issues, economic challenges, migration